Well, as far as AutoHotkey is concerned I use it mainly for hotkeys and replacement text. I'm going to generalize the thread a little to include AutoIt v3 (same idea as AutoHotkey... I use them both for different things!).

Currently, I'm writing a program that is basically a GUI for EXIFUtils (http://www.hugsan.com/EXIFutils/) to allow me to easily update EXIF captions, location, keywords, and photographer data in JPGs. Basically, I run use AutoIt to run EXIFUtils and have it export the info to a csv file, open the csv via AutoIt and parse out the info I need, updating the GUI and another CSV "database" for future reference. (Incidentally, if there are any AutoCAD LT users out there that want to script AutoCAD, we use Excel VBA to automate AutoCAD... even though LT doesnt have VBA. The process is similar to what I described above.)

Basically, I think both of these script utilities are extremely amazing and give a few more tricks for a user to get things done! Skrommel shows just how powerful these types of languages are and looking in the forums for each language, you can see more great ideas (eg, I saw an OCR script in AutoIt's forum the other day). Awesome stuff! If you find yourself doing something more than 5 times you may as well write a script for it.

BrotherS, I don't have the range and depth of use with AutoHotkey that you do, but it has become an indispensable tool for me every single day. I run various scripts, but mainly I use it as an autocorrect, keyboard shortcut, and application launcher. I occasionally remap keys, but not often. For PC gamers, you can run through every level of Doom, Grand Theft Auto, and other programs by creating various scripts to mimic the cheats. Awesome!

If you're a fan of AutoHotkey, consider an occasional donation to its developer, Chris Mallett.

That was just to lure other forum users out of the dark shadows where they are hiding

What's the best way to get started with AutoHotKey? Is the Yahoo! Groups forum worthwhile?

I suggest to start with http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/ (learning by doing and by trying to understand tiny existing scripts works great) and to join #autohotkey on irc.freenode.net - often a bit quiet in there, so don't leave after only 20 seconds

I have to retrieve patents as PDF files from Delphion http://www.delphion.comI generally use their Boolean search form, which allows you to put four things in at a time. You have to navigate various drop-downs, as well as type in the text. Lately people have been giving me lists of 70 to 120 patents to get. Patents generally have 7-digit numbers prefaced with a two-letter country code and usually suffixed with a letter+digit "kind" code (application vs. granted status). That's a lot of typing of mindless items. In the end I wrote an AWK script that converts my list of patent numbers into a AutoHotKey hotstrings script, thereby saving an awful lot of futile keypresses. Just type the next hotstring trigger into the first box, and off it goes... Nothing sophisticated, but a worthwhile time and frustration reliever.

Of course, Autohotkey's capabilities reach far beyond these simple examples. More importantly, Autohotkey features a combination that makes it a tool of choice for automating Windows: It's both powerful and easy to use. Whether you're a seasoned Windows administrator or an ordinary user, Autohotkey can make your computing life easier.

Got a quick question for you: I'm using an AHK script for simple text replacement. I type dont and it is supposed to insert don't. Problem is I must type too fast for AHK because I keep getting dot't or cat't or doest't. Is there any way to fix this? It is starting to get kind of annoying...

Here's my code section, I have keydelay set to -1 and process priority set to high:

@Kfitting: I'm not an ahk expert, i've just been playing with if for the last 2 weeks.I've checked your code and everything seems to be perfect,you selected all the maximum performance options, it should work.As i found strange it didn't, i tried it myself, and on my machine it had no problems at all..I don't write very fast,but did my max on writing "dont" and it corrected it everytime.Wouldn't it be your script that is very crowded with code,and it takes some time to act, or maybe (as mentioned in help file), your "CPU is frequently under heavy load"... I'm Just guessing here, but i can tell you that it worked well with me.

@brotherS: Thanks! That link is great to distribute through my friends and make them fall in love with ahk

I've looked at Autohot Key and Autoit and found them both somewhat useful but limited.FBSL blows em both out of the water. GUI, COM, CGI,easy API access, speed and general utility makes it a hands down superior scripting language.

nice find cpilot. is there a web page for this project where one might read more or is it all just in the forum?

-mouser

Actually the project is freeware and is still in the "building" phase. So everything is basically contained in the forum...including download instructions. Which you can find here.API access and COM are important to me and this scripting language allows you to follow the MSDN doc's pretty close making API access especially easy.I have used this scripting language for almost 2 years and have watched it evolve into a very powerful tool.

For those who don't wish to commit and yet would like to try it out there is an online version of the compiler available to experiment with:FBSL Studio

You can write scripts online and then compile for use on your machine.

and found them both somewhat useful but limited.FBSL blows em both out of the water. GUI, COM, CGI,easy API access, speed and general utility makes it a hands down superior scripting language.

Hmm...

Actually the project is freeware and is still in the "building" phase. So everything is basically contained in the forum...including download instructions. Which you can find here.API access and COM are important to me and this scripting language allows you to follow the MSDN doc's pretty close making API access especially easy.I have used this scripting language for almost 2 years and have watched it evolve into a very powerful tool.

For those who don't wish to commit and yet would like to try it out there is an online version of the compiler available to experiment with:FBSL Studio

Documentation and Tuts come with the download, and lots of great examples exist on the forum. Not just BS about "what I did today".If you can't use it based on the help file it's probably not for you anyway.

Item 2

I'm sorry the only place you can get information is from wikpedia, in case you were unaware there is a whole web out there.

Item 3

Thanks for the tip I'll get it corrected.

I'll stick with AutoHotkey..

See item 1, second sentence.

For any one else out there, your welcome to take a look, give it a try and ask questions.